Estimation of the Constitutive Relationship between Impact Resistance and Compressive Strength in Sandstones

Abstract

A series of experiments were performed to investigate the relation between the impact resistance and the compressive strength of sedimentary rocks. The experiments were conducted by the use of Charpy hammer. As a result of these series of experiments an analytical relation was elaborated between the impact resistance and the compressive strength of sedimentary rocks. An envelope domain is presented as an upper and lower bound for this relation, respectively. In the case of the samples, regardless of temperature and saturation states, the impact work values fell within the range bounded by these limit lines (two straight lines). This makes it possible to obtain an estimated strength value by the help of the tests performed in this way only by determining the density and impact work. Measurements performed at different temperatures and saturation states showed that the temperature of the sample at temperatures between −12 °C and 20 °C only minimally affects the result. The water saturation of the sample has a much greater effect on the impact resistance.